Starting in 2005, each year at least 650 children living in poverty received education assistance from YWAM Mercy Vietnam.
Though the assistance is small (approx. $11/child), it helps children to continue their schooling.
We aim to support 30% of the total number of students in poverty in the communities where YWAM Mercy Vietnam is already working. We must choose families with the most need fairly and transparently to avoid creating tensions within the community.
There are eight steps in the process.
Step 1: Sharing the purpose of the program
A meeting is organized between YWAM Mercy Vietnam, local leaders and school principals to share about the purpose of this program, and the process of carrying it out.
Step 2: Set up criteria to choose children to support
YWAM Mercy Vietnam’s staff and community leaders build a list of criteria based on current conditions in families which could affect a child’s ability to continue studying.
Step 3: Make a list of children to assess
This list is made by a local leader, leader of the Communist Party, or representative of the Women’s Union or Farmer’s Union who are aware of families in difficult circumstances in their location. Schools may help as well.
Step 4: Approval of assessment list
This assessment list is then approved by a higher level leader according to Vietnamese custom.
Step 5: Conduct assessment
YWAM Mercy Vietnam’s staff and local leaders will visit all the children on the assessment list, and use a survey form to gather all the needed information to determine their need.
Step 6: Choosing children to be supported
The supported children are chosen from the assessment list based on the earlier-determined criteria which is transparent to all involved.
Step 7: Get price quotations for needed items and purchase
At least two quotations for price will be requested from suppliers and sent to YWAM Mercy Vietnam by the local partners. Local partners will coordinate purchase and receive and sort all items.
Step 8: Prepare & present gifts to children
The gifts will be assembled by local volunteers and presented to the chosen students at the Community Hall, with the participation of local leaders, local mass organizations (Women’s Union, Farmer’s Union etc.), school principals, and YWAM Mercy Vietnam staff.
Providing this educational assistance is a significant expression of love and care from donors and local leaders to families in the community. Most locations also received cash and in-kind gifts from local business people.
On behalf of the students who benefitted and community leaders, we would like to send our sincere thanks to the donors who supported and walked with us to make this effort possible throughout the last 13 years. Your gifts given in love will yield much fruit.